Source: New England Patriots interested in Redskins RB Roy Helu

Updated March 9, 2015 at 5:00 PM;Posted March 9, 2015 at 4:45 PM

Roy Helu .jpg

Washington Redskins running back Roy Helu (29) is chased by New England Patriots cornerback Kyle Arrington (24), right, during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Rich Lipski)

In possible need of a third-down back, the New England Patriots have interest in Redskins running back Roy Helu, a source said Monday.

Helu, a free agent, has excelled as a pass-catching behind starter Alfred Morris over the past two seasons in Washington. The 6-foot, 216-pound Helu caught 42 passes for 477 yards this past year. His 11.4 yards per reception average was the best of any running back in NFL (stats are based on qualifiers who averaged more than 1.875 receptions per game). Helu also averaged 5.4 yards per carry.

When healthy, Vereen has been a reliable target for Tom Brady. He hauled in 11 passes in the Super Bowl and was a critical piece of the offense in 2013, averaging 79.4 yards from scrimmage per game. Although he didn't run many downfield routes in 2014, he has shown an ability to beat linebackers on deep wheel routes throughout his career. There are few NFL backs with Vereen's skill set.

That said, Vereen's asking price, and the contract he commands in the open market, may be out of the Patriots' range. Helu, an intriguing fit as a replacement, would presumably cost the Pats far less than Vereen. He has solid size, good speed and is a proven pass-catcher out of the backfield. New England's screen game has long been a major component of its offense, and that doesn't figure to change even if Vereen leaves.